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Seagulls and Crows

Two teams sit on opposite sides of the room while the host reads a story — every time it says "Seagulls" or "Crows," that team sprints for its goal while the other team tries to tag them first. It works because nobody's ever out for good: getting tagged just switches your team, so the score keeps shifting until the story ends.

15 min8–12 peopleEasyNo materialsIn-person onlyClassroom ✓
By Jon Zajac · Founder & Chief Icebreaker · Last updated February 19, 2024

What is Seagulls and Crows?

Seagulls and Crows splits the group into two teams on opposite walls, with the host reading a story that names one team or the other — no schedule, no warning. Whichever team gets called sprints for its goal on the far side while the other team tries to tag as many runners as possible before they arrive. Anyone tagged switches to the tagging team on the spot, and play runs until one team has tagged every opponent or the story ends, with the bigger team declared the winner.

It works because the cue is buried in a story instead of shouted as a command — both teams have to listen the whole time, since neither knows which sentence will call their name next. And nobody's ever really eliminated: a tag just moves you to the other side, so the score keeps shifting and the whole group stays in motion until the story runs out.

It needs real room to sprint across — a gym, a cafeteria, an open yard — so it's built for 8 to 12 kids and teens age 6 and up who can run safely, not a conference room, a classroom with fixed desks, or a video call. If your group can't clear that kind of space, or running and tagging don't fit, look for a lower-key pick in the full directory instead.

The rules

  1. Split the group into two teams — Seagulls and Crows.
  2. Send each team to opposite sides of the room, with their goal on the wall where the other team started.
  3. The host reads a story that names "Seagulls" or "Crows" without warning.
  4. Whichever team gets named sprints for its goal while the other team tries to tag them before they arrive.
  5. A tagged player joins the tagging team on the spot.
  6. The round ends when one team has tagged every opponent, or the story runs out — whichever team has more players wins.

Before you start

  • Group size: 8–12 players, ages 6 and up. That's the built-for range — a large room and a story are the only other requirements.
  • A large, open room. You need enough space for two teams to sprint from wall to wall. Set clear boundaries for the play area before anyone starts running.
  • A story that names both teams. Prepare or find a story that mentions "Seagulls" and "Crows" throughout — that's the entire material list.
  • Walk through the rules first. Cover the goal lines, the tag, and what happens to a tagged player before the first sprint — it heads off arguments mid-chase.

How to run it

  1. Split into teams and take your sides 1–2 min

    Divide the group into Seagulls and Crows and send each team to opposite walls, with their goal on the side the other team started from.

  2. Start the story 30 sec

    The host begins reading. Neither team knows which sentence is about to call their name.

  3. Sprint on your team's name 5–10 sec

    When the story says "Seagulls" or "Crows," that team runs for its goal while the other team tries to tag them before they get there.

  4. Tag and switch 10 sec

    Anyone tagged joins the tagging team immediately — no elimination, just a change of sides.

  5. Play to the finish 8–12 min

    Keep going until one team has tagged every opponent or the story ends. Whichever team has more players when it stops wins.

← nobody knows whose name is coming next.

Facilitator tips

Skip the gendered team splitDivide by color or object instead of boys-versus-girls — "Seagulls in blue, Crows in yellow" keeps the split neutral and works just as well.
Say it's a team game, not a solo oneRemind the room they're working together, not racing each other — it keeps the sprint collaborative instead of cutthroat.
Give the animal sounds an easy barIf you swap in sounds for the animals, say upfront that nobody needs to nail it — one soft bark or meow while crossing the room is plenty.
Offer an out for running and taggingSome players won't want to sprint or be tagged. Let them stay on their team's side and cheer instead, and skip the sounds if that's not their thing either.

Variations

Swap the animals

Trade Seagulls and Crows for any pair — Dogs and Cats, Lions and Elephants — same story-cue structure, new theme.

Add animal sounds

Have each team make its animal's sound while crossing the room. Same sprint, an extra layer of chaos.

Why it works

Listening is the actual gameThe cue to run is buried inside a story, not shouted as a command — both teams have to track the narration the whole time, not just wait for a whistle.
Nobody's out for goodA tag doesn't eliminate anyone — it just switches their team. The whole group stays in motion until the story ends or one side is empty.
HELLO, MY NAME ISJon

"I like handing this one to a group that needs to move. It's zero materials, the story keeps everyone half-listening the whole time, and the second your team's name gets called, the whole room scrambles at once."

Jon Zajac · Founder & Chief Icebreaker

Reflection questions

For classrooms and camp groups ready for the debrief — a couple of minutes here turns the chase into an actual conversation.

  1. What strategies did you use to work with your team and tag the opposing players?Turns individual tactics into shared strategy for the next round.
  2. How did you feel when you were tagged by an opponent and had to switch teams?A read on how the group handles a sudden switch — normal in this game, but worth checking in on.
  3. Did you find it helpful to have a story read aloud during the game? Why or why not?Tells you whether the story format is landing, or whether a simpler cue would work better.
  4. What did you think of the idea of making animal sounds while running across the room? Would this have made the game more fun for you, or would it have been a distraction?Tells you whether the animal-sounds variation is worth running again.
  5. If you were to play Seagulls and Crows again, what changes would you suggest to make the game even more exciting and engaging?Turns feedback straight into your next-round adjustments.

If this fits, so will these

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Jon Zajac

Founder & Chief Icebreaker

I started IcebreakerSpot because I believe strong connections are the foundation of successful teams. This site exists to make it easy to find and share the icebreakers and team-building activities that build trust, spark collaboration, and help groups do great things together.

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